Article container drawer



Feb. 2, 1943. L. EDI-:LMANN ARTICLE CONTAINER DRAWER Filed June 18, 1940 '2 -Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 2, 1943.

ARTICLE CONTANER DRAWER Filed June 18, 1 940 2 'Sheets-Sheet 2 www Sv wh @Si @mm eo EdeZIIza-Itz u u @au Patente-d Feb. 2, 1943 UN'IED STATES PATENT @ENCE ARTICLE CONTADIER DRAWER,-

Leo Edelmann, Chicago, Ill.

Application .lune 18, 1940, Serial No. 341,187

(Cl. l1*:5-7)

2 Claims.

these articles or parts in separate compart` ments to thus be readily available and accessible. vAn, object of this invention is to provide a compartmented article container drawerrwhich can be mounted and used in stores, in shops, in service departments, and in fact wherever and whenever there are shelves, storage bins, tables, counters, benches, or other supporting structures that will m'ount and carry the storage drawer, and which article container drawer is of such construction that it can be readily, conveniently and expeditiously tted and attached to the storage structure in relatively limited space and in locations where ordinarily space may be wasted or unoccupied.

A'further object is to provide a cover for said drawer swingably mounted thereon in such manner that when the drawer is pulled outvthe cover can be opened and when the drawer is shoved in the coverwill be held closed. v

Another object is to so yconstruct the drawer that a compartmented drawer portion, guides or guideways, and a cover or top portion, are associated as a unitaryrvconstruction to thus permit ready handling and shipping and. convenient .and expeditious attachment or mounting at the point or position of use. y l

Still another purpose isto provideguide or guideway portions for the drawer which will give rigid and substantially non-yielding support for A further object is to provide a friction reprovide means by Cil ducing structure toiacilitate vmovement of the drawer inA opening and closing the same. y l

A'still further object andV purpose is to provide a compartmented Vdrawer structure with which the parts forming the compartments cooperate with each other and with `the body portions of the drawer to reinforce and strengthen the structure so that a rigid and yet light drawer construction'is accomplished, and to provide for marking or indication of various compartments to designate the compartments or the materials o-r articles contained therein. Y i

Still another object is to provide a drawer of the above character which is capable ofl being made up with the main portions thereof of sheet metal,l to thus be of simple and inexpensive construction, and which is yet of such rigid construction that the drawer portion will hold and support a considerable weight of metal or other heavy parts, andthatV the drawer structure having a cover portion serving as a top over the several compartments can be used as a shipping container for the parts in the. several compartments. Y,

Yet a further-object is to so construct and mount the hinged cover that it will close over the open top ofthe drawerasa dust proof cover, and will be presented as a smoothtop to 4serve as a smooth extension surface orA slide for writing or working upon, when the drawer is pulled out, and which when swung up to the open position will stand in upright relation thereby presenting lthe under side inV proximity to the open drawer where it may be conveniently .employed to display advertising matter, show a catalogued contents of the drawer', to contain and present a ,-dealerls name -or advertisement, and in fact to jcontain any illustrations or other matterthat tion and with the drawer portion partly pulled out.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure l showing the drawer pulled out to its fullest extent and with the cover opened.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View slide members 4 and 5.

through a drawer constructed in accordance with my invention, and a supporting structure therefor, with the drawer extended to its full open position.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the drawer supporting guide and mounting structure as it will appear when looking up from the lower forward side.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through the drawer and supporting guide and mounting structure.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the cover mounting.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 with the cover swung to the raised or open position.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the parts as shown in Fig. 7.

As has been stated, my improved drawer structure is adaptable for use to be attached to and supported by a counter, table top, or any other suitable supporting member, and in the present instance I have generally illustrated the top portion of such a supporting structure such as for instance a table or bench at I, it being understood that this top supporting structure might be supported by legs, or is carried by or associated with any cabinet, counter, table, or any other supporting structure.

The drawer mounting and slide structure is illustrated in Fig. 4 with the drawer removed, and in other figures of the drawing with the drawer in place, and this supporting structure has a top member 2, of sheet metal or other suitable material, formed to be slightly larger than the body portion 3 of the sliding drawer. This top member 2 has at its side edges the drawer guide and The guide and slide members are at their upper edges each provided with an outwardly disposed flange 6 and an inwardly extending return flange 1, these flanges being suiciently separated to receive and hold .the side edges of the top member 2 of the supporting structure. The guide and slide members 4 and 5 can be rigidly and permanently connected with the top member 2'by means of rivets 8 passing through the top member and through the flange 1, by spot welding, or by any other desired and suitable fastening. The forward edge of the top member 2 is provided or formed with an inturned flange 9, perhaps best shown in Figs. 1 land 3, so that this edge is reinforced, stifened and strengthened between the two drawer slide or guide members 4 and 5. At its inner edge the top member 2 is provided with a down turned flange portion I0 which serves to reinforce and strengthen and stifenjhe top member at the rear edge between the drawer slide and guide members 4 and 5, and also this down turned flange is interposed in the path of sliding movement of the drawer as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and the flange l0 will serve as a stop to limit inward sliding movement of the drawer.

At their lower edges, the drawer slide or guide members 4 and 5 have inturned and upturned flange portions I I and I2 which form open track- Ways. Anti-friction bearing rollers I3 are mounted on pins I4 within these open trackways to thus be presented as anti-friction bearings to carry the drawer when in place in the supporting structure.

It is perhaps preferable that the drawer slide and guide members 4k and 5 be made somewhat longer than the top portion 2, but as the main portion of the weight of the drawer will be carried substantially beneath this top portion 2, it will probably be found sufficient to provide rollers I3 only in the forward portion of the length of each of the members 4 and 5, or in the portion beneath the top member 2. To hold the drawer slide and guide members 4 and 5 in proper spacing and to assemble the supporting structure into a substantially rigid unitary structure, I provide spacing rods I5 and I6 and mount these transversely adjacent to the lower edges and the forward and rear ends of these members 4 and 5. As shown inFig. 5, the rods I5 and I6 have their ends externally screw threaded, as at I1, and the screw threaded ends of the rods are tted through aligned openings formed through the trackway portions of the members 4 and 5, clamp nuts I8 and I9 being turned onto the screw threaded portions I'I to bear on opposite sides of the trackway portions and to consequently securely clamp and rigidly hold the transverse cross bars I5 and I6 in substantially unitary mounting and assembly with the members 4 and 5.

The overlapping and outwardly extending portions of the flanges 6 and 'l and of the top member 2 are provided with openings 25J spaced at suitable and desirable intervals along the length of each of the members 4 and 5, and screws 2I, or other suitable fastening means, can be inserted through these openings to secure the drawer supporting and slide and guideway structure upon the under side of the table top or other supporting member I. In the present instance I have shown the fastenings 2| as wood screws, but it will be understood and appreciated that bolts, rivets, lor in fact any other form of fastening can be employed, depending somewhat upon the particular use and installation. The securement of these mounting and fastening members through the aligned openings 20 further insures a rigid and unitary association of the top member 2 and the members 4 and 5, and the drawer portion and supporting structure as a whole is thus further supported and is made even more rigid by the supporting structure l.

The drawer structure has the body portion 3 thereof provided with side slide members 22 and 23. As perhaps best shown in Fig. 5, these side slide members have their upper edges folded over to provide reinforcing and stilfening flanges 24, and at their lower edges the members 22 and 23 are bent inwardly and then upwardly to provide flange portions 25 which are loosely received to slide within the gudeways formed by the flanges I I and I 2 of the members 4 and 5, and to be supported upon the friction reducing bearing rollers I3. The upper flanged edge 24 of each of the members 22 and 23 is presented in slightly spaced proximity to the under side of the top member 2, within the drawer slide and guide members 4 and 5, and as these members 22 and 23 are made longer, at their inner ends, than the forward-toback length of the body 3 of the drawer, the extensions of these members 22 and 23 will slide into the rearwardly extending ends of the members 4 and 5.

A drawer front 2S is mounted on the forward or outer ends of the members 22 and 23, and a drawer back 21 is secured transversely between the members 22 and 23 forwardly of the rear ends thereof. It is preferable that the drawer front be provided with reinforcing flange portions 28 and 29 at its upper and lower edges, and the drawer back 21 is also preferably provided with flanges 30 and 3I, at its upper and lower edges.

A drawer bottom 32 is ttted within the contines of the members 22, 23, 26 and 21, and rests at its edges upon the lange portions 25, 29 and 3|. This drawer bottom 32 is secured in place by means of rivets, spot welding, or any other suitable fastening, and with the drawer front and back and the side portions makes yup the substantially rectangular drawer body 3.

Itis desirable that the drawer body 3 be divided off to provide a plurality of compartments so that provision is made for reception, storage and display of several diierent types or varieties or characters of materials or parts or items in the several compartmented -spaces of the drawer body, and to accomplish this division or compartmenting f the drawer structure I provide a plurality of partition members 33 fitted within the drawer body to extend from front to back and substantially parallel with the side members 22 perienced in properly locating the particular item in one of the unmarked compartments, and therefore I provide means for holding identifying tags or markers adjacent to each of the several compartments. On some of the transverse partitions 34, I provide the clip or card receiving and holding portions 35. These clip strips 35 have side flanges adapted to hold in place guide or index or identicationcards, or other sheets or strips having thereon matter or material desired to be displayed adjacent to the several compartments. In the present instance I have shown these clip strips 35 mounted on'alternate transverse partitions 34, and in such a construction and assembly a single guide strip can have marked thereon two identifying indications to show adjacent to the two compartments on opposite sides of the location of the clip strip 35.

As stated, the nange I0 is disposed to project into the path of movement of the drawer 3 to thus serve as a stop to limit inward or closing movement of the drawer, and if desired the flange portion 29 of the drawer front 26 can also serve to stop and strengthen the drawer when brought to the closed position. This flange portion 29, extending below the bottom 32 of the drawer body 3, also presents a convenient ilange or projection to be grasped in opening the drawer.

As the transverse spreader rods I5 and I6 are spaced below the bottom 32 of the drawer body 3, these rods will not ordinarily interfere with the free sliding movement of the drawer to opened and closed positions. However, as the structure has been described above, the drawer body portion can be pulled forwardly or outwardly to be entirely disengaged from the slide or guide portions 4 and 5, and to avoid accidental displacement of the drawer and consequent spilling of the contents, it is desirable that means be pro vided to stop or limit outward movement of the drawer while the extensions of the side members 22 and 23 are still slidably or telescopically received within the members 4 and 5 asucient distance to support the weight of the drawer body 3, such position being indicated in Fig. 3. With this in mind, I provide a plate 36 which is swingably mounted on the under side of the bottom portion 32 adjacent to the drawer back 21. This plate or stop member 36 has a hooked ange 31 bent downwardly and forwardly at its rear edge, and as the drawer body 3 is pulled out, this l drawer 3.

ilange 31 will catch upon the spacing rod I5 and will prevent further outward movement of the drawer. Where it is desired to remove the drawer, this swingably mounted plate or stop member can be swung up so that the hook portion 31 will clear and pass over the top of the rod l5, and then the drawer can be entirely removed. As illustrated in Fig. 3, it is desirable that this stop portion or plate 36 be so formed and mounted that outward movement of the drawer body 3 will be stopped when the drawer back 21 is adjacent to and slightly forward of the front edge of the top member 2.

A cover, generally indicated at'38, is swingably mounted on the drawer adjacent to the rear portion thereof exposed when the drawer is opened, and this cover will ordinarily shut over the top of the drawer portion 3, when the drawer is closed, as illustrated in Figure 1, whereas when the drawer is opened this cover can be swung up to substantially the position shown in Fig. 2, in which relation the cover will be supported in manner to be hereinafter more fully set forth, in substantially upright relation with the under side of the face thereof presented immediately adjacent to the open top of the drawer 3. This cover 3.8 has a substantially smooth or flat top portion 39 provided with ange portions 4|] on the side and forward edges thereof, with the flange portions on the sides of top 39 extending rearwardly to serve as bearing portions 4|. As best shown in Fig. 8, the top portion 39 has the rear edge thereof turned inwardly to provide a reinforcing flange or edge 42, and adjacent to the bearing portions 4l the top portion is cut out or slotted, as at 43, to fit over the upper edge of the side portions 22 and 23 of the drawer 3. Rivets or pins 44, or other suitable bearing means, are provided to connect the bearing portions 4I `of the cover 38 swingably upon the side portions 22 and 23, and this cover 38 is so mounted that when swung to the raised position, the rear edge 42 will t behind the ilange 30 of the back portion 21 of the drawer 3. These portions of the drawer and cover cooperate to hold the drawer in upright position, slightly inclined rearwardly, so that the cover will not accidentally or by gravity fall to the closed position.

When the cover 38 is closed, as shown in Figure 1, the flanged portions t upon and over the edges of the side and front of the drawer 3, and consequently the top of the drawer is closed to prevent displacement or intermixing of the parts or articles contained in the several compartments, and at the same time a dustproof cover is interposed to keep the contents of the drawer, and of the several compartments thereof, in clean and fresh condition. Further, when the cover 38 is closed and the drawer 3 is pulled out, the cover will be presented as a fiat table-like leaf or extension available and quite suitable for use as an auxiliary table or bench or other supporting surface. The inner surface of the back or main portion 39 of the cover 38 is smooth and plain so that it may be readily used as a surface to receive advertising matter, catalogue and stock designations and information, and in fact any other matter that it may be found desirable to display in conjunction with the material in the In the present instance I have indicated this inner cover surface as having one or more panels or portions 45 thereon adapted to conveniently receive and display the name of a manufacturer or of a jobber or of a particular individual dealer or firm, and it will be obvious that the outer surface of the back or body portion 39 is also available for reception of printed matter, names, or in fact any and all matter that it may be desired to display, and that each time the drawer is opened or closed this surface of the cover and any matter shown or displayed thereon will be prominently in View. Further, the outer face of the front 2t, of the drawer 3, presents a surface upon which advertising or other matter can be placed in such manner that it will be displayed to all using or looking at the drawer.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a drawer structure adaptable for mounting and support in connection with and upon a vast number of countery table and other structures now already in use, which drawer construction and the supporting means therefor are of such height or depth as to permit mounting in what is ordinarily waste or unused space; that the drawer structure isY made substantially entirely of sheet metal which is readily and inexpensively worked and made up, and yet the parts are intertted and interconnected and interbraced in such a manner that an extremely rigid and unitary structure is accomplished; that the cover structure will serve eiloiently toy retain parts in the drawer and to prevent ingress of dust and dirt to cause deterioration or contamination of the contents, while at the same time the cover is presented to be used and to serve as a support or work surface, when closed, and is available to contain and display advertising matter, catalogue or material designations, dealers or jobbers or wholesalers or manufacturers' names or information, and in fact any matter that it may be desired to show; and, that as provided the drawer structure can be made up and can be readily shipped .and handled and can then be tted in place and attached for use by an individual user, without the employment of special tools or fittings or appliances.

While I have herein shown and described only certain specific embodiments of my invention and have suggested only certain possible uses and constructions and assemblies and changes, it will be appreciated that many changes can be made in the form, contruction, arrangement, assembly and association of the parts, in the manner of mounting, and in the manner of use of the structure, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. An .article container drawer comprising with guideway structure. a drawer slidably mounted in said guideway structure and having extension slide portions whereby the drawer can be pulled out to entirely expose the article container portion, a cover for said drawer having downturned side flanges cut out adjacent their rear ends. to t over the upper edge of the side portions of the drawer, and pivot means connected through the end portions of the side flanges and the sides of the drawer whereby said cover is swingably mounted upon the drawer to close over the container portion thereof and the rear edge of the cover is presented as an extension projecting beyond the pivot axis to engage with the back of the container portion of the drawer and hold the cover in upright position when opened.

2. An article container drawer structure comprising guideway structure including side drawer slide and guide portions, a drawer having anV article containing portion provided with a rear wall and having extensions beyond said rear wall received in the guideway structure whereby said drawer can be pulled out to expose the article container portion thereof, a cover for the article container portion of said drawer having side iianges fitting over the side edges of the drawer structure, said cover being slotted at its rear edge to receive the upper edges of the sides of the drawer and to present the rear ends of the side flanges as bearing ears, and bearing pin means mounting said bearing ear portions on the sides of the drawer structure for opening swinging movement with the rear edge of the cover swing'- ing upon such opening movement to engage with the rear wall of the container portion of the drawer as a stop to retain said cover in upright opened position.

LEO EDELMANN. 

